Barcelona faced an unexpected 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday, halting their impressive seven-match winning streak across all competitions. The solitary goal was scored by Sheraldo Becker in the first half, putting the Basque team firmly in control of the match.
The defeat marked Barcelona’s first loss in over a month and only their second in this domestic season. Despite entering the match with a formidable reputation for offensive prowess—having scored 40 goals in the top five European leagues and 15 in the Champions League—the team struggled significantly against Sociedad, failing to register a single shot on target.
Barcelona remains atop the league standings with 33 points, maintaining a six-point lead over Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, while Atletico Madrid sits in third with 26 points. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad climbed to eighth place with 18 points.
The absence of young talent Lamine Yamal, sidelined with an ankle injury, was felt during the match. Barcelona believed they had opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Robert Lewandowski converted a rebound, but the goal was disallowed for offside upon VAR review.
Real Sociedad seized control afterward, with Barça’s goalkeeper Iñaki Peña delivering a remarkable save against a free-kick from Mikel Oyarzabal. Becker capitalized on the situation, evading the offside trap to slot the ball home from a Luka Sucic header in the 33rd minute. The home side continued to dominate, missing several scoring chances and almost extending their lead.
Despite their struggles, Barcelona had a close call in the second half when Fermín López’s deflected shot tested Sociedad’s goalkeeper Álex Remiro, who managed to make a crucial save.
Reflecting on the match, Barcelona’s Pedri acknowledged the difficulty they faced against a well-pressing Real Sociedad team. He expressed confidence that this performance would be a temporary setback, emphasizing that the team remains in good form and committed to improving after the international break.
This defeat serves as a reminder that even the strongest teams can have off days, but with leaders like Pedri maintaining a focused and optimistic outlook, there is potential for Barcelona to recover and build on their success in the upcoming matches.
Summary: Barcelona’s winning streak ends with a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad, marking their first defeat in over a month. Despite the disappointment, the team remains at the top of LaLiga, and players express confidence in their ability to bounce back.